'Risen' to the challenge: Baker School's Savannah Risen signs with Andrew College

By RANDY DICKSON / News Bulletin

Published: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 04:50 PM.

"I based my decision on what her coaches (Tomikko Parks and James Kerrell) said about her — that was a seller right there because of the quality person she is and her character and the leadership she has. And then she sent me clip footage that she had so I could see it (Risen playing), because she couldn't come to tryouts and she couldn't get on the court."

Parks said she couldn't be happier that Risen will have a chance to continue her volleyball career. And she thinks the move from home will allow Risen to blossom as a person.

"I'm really excited for Savannah," Parks said. "She worked hard all through her high school career and then, to have something like an injury catch her the start of her senior year the very first game, (was difficult).

"I'm very excited that she will be able to go on and play. This is good for her, that she will be able to spread her wings out of the Baker community and be able to grow as a person. I can't wait to see what's going to happen for her in the next couple of years."

BAKER — Savannah Risen's senior season for Baker School's volleyball team was cut short before it started. Risen received a season-ending knee injury in the first match of the year.

Risen was down. And while she was out for the season, her volleyball dream still burned brightly.

She will have an opportunity to live that volleyball dream a little longer, as Monday she signed scholarship papers to play for Andrew College, a community college in Georgia.

Most of the schools looking at Risen, who played outside hitter and setter, backed off after her injury. But she's happy to be going to Andrew, where she will play setter.

"It's a small school and I think it keeps me in my comfort zone, coming from Baker," she said. "I'll miss hitting, but I just want to play."

Andrew Coach Donna Rountree was on hand for the signing ceremony in Baker School's Media Center. Rountree isn't concerned that Risen is coming off a season ending injury.

"Everything she has done just to come back shows me she wants to play," Rountree said. "I think the first time she comes off her feet she might hesitate a little bit because she's going to hear that sound in her knee, but after that she's going to be fine.

"I based my decision on what her coaches (Tomikko Parks and James Kerrell) said about her — that was a seller right there because of the quality person she is and her character and the leadership she has. And then she sent me clip footage that she had so I could see it (Risen playing), because she couldn't come to tryouts and she couldn't get on the court."

Parks said she couldn't be happier that Risen will have a chance to continue her volleyball career. And she thinks the move from home will allow Risen to blossom as a person.

"I'm really excited for Savannah," Parks said. "She worked hard all through her high school career and then, to have something like an injury catch her the start of her senior year the very first game, (was difficult).

"I'm very excited that she will be able to go on and play. This is good for her, that she will be able to spread her wings out of the Baker community and be able to grow as a person. I can't wait to see what's going to happen for her in the next couple of years."